Stockfish gives 7. c3 a +0.30 and 7. h3 a -0.16
For Ruy Lopez players
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c3 is certainly more principled than h3. With the pawn still at d3, Bg4 doesn't achieve much and the bishop can be pushed back. On top of that playing h3 before Black has castled may be tricky, we see more and more of those Rg8/h6 g5-g4 plans working somehow.
c3 is the better move, not only to prepare d4, but also to save the important bishop Bb3 from Na5.
The move h3 will probably be necessary after that to prepare d4 without allowing ...Bg4.
12Knaves wrote:
This position
Black has just played d6. This opens up his bishop, and protects the pawn on e5, which means the c6 knight is free to gallop to a5.
Which pawn do you play?
a) c3/h4 to preempt Na5 and provide a safe haven for the Spanish bishop?
b) h3 to prevent Bg4?
Don't think either is 'bad' but I guess maybe its a style thing? Or is there some +/- with each option?
The OP made an error.
Their is no h4 move in this position.
The OP was most likely trying to say the move a4.
Best move in this position is a4.
White is playing the Andersen Variation
——————
The main move for white is to castle.
If White does castle, Black can play a few moves.
5…Be7 is Closed Ruy Lopez
5…Nxe4 is Open Ruy Lopez
5…b5 6.Bb3 Bb7 is Arch Angel Defense
5…Bc5 is Neo-Arch Angel Defense
5…d6 is Steinz Deferred
——————
When white doesn’t castle, He is trying to avoid a few lines.
This is what the Andersen line is trying to do.
The move d3 prevents Black from playing Open Ruy Lopez (Nxe4).
The move d3 makes the Arch Angel lines unattractive because those lines main goal is to put Bishop on b7 and pressure the e4 pawn.
Arch Angel lines are more deadly when white has the D pawn on d4 and e4 is only being defended by pieces vs. pawns. When white plays d3, It makes the e4 pawn more rock solid because it is being defended by a pawn.
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Main disadvantage of the d3 move is it makes the Steinz d6 line a lot stronger.
The Steinz deferred isn’t that great in the main line because White tries to attack center with c3 and d4 pretty aggressively.
The Andersen line with d3 doesn’t allow white to be as aggressive with c3 to d4 because the pawn has already moved to d3. It’s a lose of a tempo.
—————
Another disadvantage Andersen line has is the Closed Ruy Lopez lines are slightly stronger as well due to similar reason I gave above.
Now that I explained the above - you can see why a4 is best move.
If you wanted to play c3 + h3 + d4, you should play the main line with castles.
It would look like the above position.
Main line Ruy Lopez - Chigorin Defense
Look at final position with white to move.
Now compare it to Andersen line with white to move.
It is a powerful difference!
It took white 2 moves to play d4 in Andersen line.
It took white 1 move to play d4 in Main line.
The 1 extra move let black have an extra move.
@5
"you can see why a4 is best move"
++ It is not that clear. Here are 3 top games with the 3 options a4, c3, h3.
This position
Black has just played d6. This opens up his bishop, and protects the pawn on e5, which means the c6 knight is free to gallop to a5.
Which pawn do you play?
a) c3/h4 to preempt Na5 and provide a safe haven for the Spanish bishop?
b) h3 to prevent Bg4?
Don't think either is 'bad' but I guess maybe its a style thing? Or is there some +/- with each option?